Season preview part one: Is there actually a title favourite?

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2:09The Athletic FC.

2:18Totally Football Show. Today, after a mad summer of cash splashing and ahead of a bold new campaign, we're looking at this season's title favourites. Can the best team in the world make top three in England? Will Liverpool play words now they're playing words? How will the two-pet programme work out for Man City? And after more bridesmaids' performances than a man I feel like a woman, our Arsenal now anyone's match. Plus, we peer through the Isaac Hayes to talk Newcastle, chat some Spurs and Championship 2 in this Totally Football show.

2:54Unbelievable, unbelievable this. Tuesday, 13th of August. Lovely to be back with you, listener. Lovely to be back in the studio with my pals, Charlie Eccleshare. Hello. Duncan Alexander. Hello. And watching from a safe distance, Daniel Story. Good morning. Happy new season. Happy new season, Daniel of the Eye. Daniel, what does the man who's done the 92 do next? he goes on the road he notes that 60 games is quite a lot fewer than 92 and he does 60 long reads around England and Scotland and Europe and anywhere else I like it was that from your editor or from Mrs Story? that was from me Mrs Story would be both offended at being called Mrs Story I think and be offended at the notion that she didn't want me away for 92 games she was fine last season excellent excellent well there's so much to look forward to this summer not least your on the road what's the catchy title for it yeah on the road yeah on the road has that been used before anyway certainly 150 times anyway anyway so much to look forward to in this new season loads of new faces crazy summer of spending not sure what the kind of total figure is so far on Premier League's outlay, but I'm thinking it's going to be mad.

4:25Of all the players coming in or young faces breaking through, which ones have got you most excited? Duncan Alexander? I mean, there's so many. I enjoyed seeing Florian Verts in the Community Shield. Indeed. Darting around, playing balls. You're like, oh, didn't know you could pass like that. That's good. I'm pretty excited about the prospect of Sesko versus Gokkerers on the opening weekend. Just a narrative classico to kick the season off. Obviously, Sesco might start on the bench. But yeah, I mean, that's going to be very much a here's what you could have bought scenario. But yeah, I mean, I think it's been notable, isn't it, that pretty much every club, bar maybe Fulham, and some Spurs fans would also raise their hands.

5:07But everyone's splashed out. And no matter how jaded you feel in May, when August rolls around, the excitement mount. Shuffle the deck. We're ready for a fresh hand of action, Charlie. Yeah, those are some of the ones I was going to say as well. I mean, Eke Tike was at Liverpool. But definitely having a guy like Wurtz come in for that amount of money, just buying a seemingly ready-made start. I think the most exciting thing about transfers is always a number nine, the kind of will they score on their debut. And, you know, this feels like a big summer for number nines. I'm curious to see how Trent does at Real Madrid.

5:41Sort of an opposite one of these. And Zubimendi looks like being quite a player. Perhaps. perhaps narrative changing at all. So I'm pretty pumped to have a look at Grealish, Jack Grealish at Everton, as well as all the names you mentioned. Estival lining up for Chelsea after his banging goal against them in the Club World Cup. Daniel, if you're still talking to me, who are you most looking forward to seeing? I'm looking forward to seeing Morgan White, Morgan is right after he signed his first in July. That was good. And the shamelessly hipster answer is Maxim de Kuiper new Brighton left back looks really really kind of exactly what you'd imagine a Brighton left back look like flying at the pitch and flying back they've obviously loaned out got rid of Pervis of Stupinan to Milan I think so yeah he's going to start and he looks yeah he looks like one of those players that in three months time Chelsea will try and work out why they haven't already paid 60 million pounds I was going to say how long till he's downing tools to get that Chelsea move yeah well good luck to him Speaking of downing tools, of course, the build-up to the new season very much dominated by the tale of one man and his desire to break free of that gilded prison up on Time's side.

6:56We'll come to that very, very shortly, but the bulk of today's show, the plan is that we're going to be looking at, as we start our Premier League preview, we're looking at the contenders for the number one slot, the big four, if you will, which I've kind of got down as Liverpool because they're the champions, Chelsea, because they're the world champions. Man City, because Man City. And Arsenal, because I will not learn. No Man United in there, which I know based on last season's result is not a surprise, but because it's Man United, there's still a bit of a twitch thinking, ooh, and no Europe.

7:34And no Europe. And they've signed a load of players. The no Europe thing has just gathered so much. Ever since Leicester. Yeah, yeah. Well, it was consecutive, wasn't it? Because Chelsea did it. Chelsea then won the Premier League in 2017. without Europe. I mean, I do think more than ever now, that that does make a massive difference. When you're talking about eight-game groups. In football, as in the country. Get the players on the grass and they learn so much. They learn more on midweek days than weekends. Scientifically proven. Daniel, should we have included United as opposed to holding them back to our second preview show?

8:05Actually, to draw in the listeners for that, because they're always a bit of a... What? Daniel. I don't think this is Harry Hot Take, but I do not think Manchester United will win the Premier League this season. All right. Excellent. No, I mean, not excellent, but thank you for that. They seem to me to have bought sort of luxury items when they still have the need for, I mean, it's still the same defence, goalkeeper and central midfield. It's my point. And we should probably point out that Kunja and Bwemo were the two big over-performers the next few last year and Cesco did not exactly rip up the goal-scoring charts in Germany.

8:43Now, that doesn't really mean that much because they might all click and it might be lovely. But yeah, I think they're very much a wait and see how they start. Wait and see until Thursday. I've got them down, as when in our second preview show. We'll go deep on Man United. We're also today going to be looking at the other two teams who did make the Champions League, one of whom are Spurs, courtesy of that Europa League victory. The other one is Newcastle, who I read in The Athletic, their fans have won this season's prize as the most pessimistic ahead of the new campaign. This ties in largely with the story we were just referencing, Alexander Izak's desire to do one.

9:24There's been fresh talk of that this morning, Tuesday, as we record. So let's begin today by quickly wrapping up with George Corkin, live from Tyneside, what exactly the situation is with Alexander Izak and whether he will end up giving the magpies the bird. This is the Totally Football Show with James Richardson, part of the Athletic FC podcast network. George, good morning. Let me tell you, I'm loving life. Excellent. Newcastle top of the table, I read. Top of the pessimism table. Top of the pessimism table, but yeah, that's a very optimistic way of looking at pessimism, yeah. Are fans right, Newcastle fans that is, are they right to be so concerned about the season ahead?

10:10I mean, it's a very interesting one, isn't it? I mean, as someone who's watched Newcastle all my life, and as someone of a certain age, I'd always thought about winning something, that being the final goal. They did it a few months ago, and so, bigger picture, I don't really care anymore. But I don't suppose that's the answer you want to... I mean, it has been a very weird summer. For the first time, after three transfer windows without bringing in a first-team-ready player, they had money to spend. they're trophy winners they're in the champions league uh the second time in three seasons they've got a fantastic coach they've got a fantastic team in the old-fashioned sense of the word they've got some great players there was a lot to look forward to but it's been it's been a real mess there's been a host of rejections from their sort of top targets they haven't got a sporting director they haven't got a ceo in place and you know hanging over all of it has been alexander Isak.

11:07So, I mean, the big picture stuff that I said at the top in terms of, you know, having a good platform to attack this season does remain the case. And if they bring in another couple of players before the end of the window, which I'm sure they will do, they can still go on and have a good season. But it does feel like a sort of crossroads moments for the club, I would say. And a crossroads moment for Isak, as you referenced, where do you think we're going to be in two weeks' time on him? I wish I could say. It's one of those sagas that has a multiple of truths and very few facts. So if you speak to the club, he's not for sale.

11:44Or to put that a different way, a valuation of£150 million. And they would need big replacements to come in as the days move on. That gets less and less likely. As our colleague David Ornstein has reported this morning, Isak is saying he won't play for the club again. So, you know, it is a mess. The big sort of strategy this summer was to keep Isak and hopefully to give him a better contract, an enhanced contract, possibly with a release clause. As the summer has gone on, that strategy has changed slightly and it's been to try and tough it out. I mean, I think there's been that thought that if they can get to the end of the window, So Eddie Howe can use his powers of motivation to sort of reintegrate him and get him back playing for the team.

12:36But at this point, I just honestly, I can't call it. And it's, you know, it's really sad because he has been an astonishing player for Newcastle. He's their most complete centre forward since Alan Shearer. I would say he was part of that incredible moment at Wembley. and for him to behave the way he has, albeit there's a context to it, has just been really disappointing. The thing I don't really understand with this is that what leverage does Isaac have? This reminds me a lot of Harry Kane in 2021 when I was covering Spurs. He had three years left on his deal. He said, I'm not coming back to training.

13:14You missed the first day. That's it. I'm done with this club. And Spurs are like, OK, well, City need to come in with a huge offer. If they do, maybe we'll think about it. But you're our player. You're under contract for three more years. you're not going and as much as he can say I'm never playing for you again ultimately I kind of feel like if Newcastle can sit out the window he'll miss three league games max if he does stick to this so I'm going to sulk and then what does he do he'll get bored and he'll play again and everyone will kind of forget about it I know this feels huge and epochal and like oh this is the biggest thing ever but Suarez was the same with Liverpool he was like I'm never playing for you again well guess what he did and he had his best season ever with them Kane stayed for two more years was brilliant I know it's like awful when your best player's doing this but I just don't really see what he can do Newcastle hold all the power here he's got three more years on his deal if he stays one more year gives them a great year they can then sell him next year and they'll still get huge money like I don't know it feels very it's another tough summer for gentlemen's agreement yeah but he doesn't really he's got no leverage I totally agree with you Charlie and I think that's what Newcastle would would hope and obviously you know you can say you don't you're not going to play again but then oh look here come the Champions League yeah you know this is the this is absolutely the platform that Esau would want there's a World Cup at the end of it there's that to play for so logically absolutely what you say what you say there is correct and I'm sure that's what kind of Newcastle are hoping for in the present though it's very very toxic and sure yeah you know to have to have somebody training apart from the first team as he has been you know that sort of thing can be a dressing room killer and you know you're talking so you're talking about something bigger than one player and I think again to look at it from a you know purely Newcastle perspective this is the second summer in the row in a row where there has been huge flux a at the top of the club but then also around the dressing room so you go back 12 months and it was Anthony Gordon who'd had his head turned by Liverpool ultimately that didn't lead to anything and ultimately how brought the dressing room back round but the first half of last season I mean it gets forgotten now because of how it ended up but the first half of last season was a real struggle and he had he had a dressing room I don't want to say was disunited but there were rumblings through in the dressing room there were some players who were disaffected and it took a massive effort to turn it around and you can never say with any certainty how a season will go so yes Isak can and could be reintegrated, but there's no guarantee that it leaves Newcastle facing a good season.

15:50And the options to bring in, should he leave, are getting fewer and fewer of the ones that were on Newcastle's list, I imagine. George, by the way, is there a good Newcastle podcast that people can keep abreast of Isak and Newcastle-related developments on? There are many good Newcastle podcasts. Pod on the Tyne, formally brought to you by The Athletic, has gone independent this summer. We're really proud of our association with The Athletic. They've been brilliant in terms of helping us go independent. But yeah, we're relaunching this week and with the same team, with the same usual mix of nonsense and more nonsense.

16:29And yeah, really, really excited about that. Okay. You were under contract for another three years, but you said there's no way we're integrating with these people again. Looking forward to hearing your new direction. The good news, let's talk about the good news for Newcastle. The trophy drought is over. The time where Derby is back as well. Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure how many Newcastle fans would say that's good news. I mean, I love it. I love that day. You know, it's just, it's unique. It's different to anything else. It's different to any other, you know, I'm not saying it's unique in the world of football.

17:04It's certainly unique to our part of the world, though. There is just that feeling of heaviness around the day, of meaning. In the past, it's been horrible in the sense that it's been one club dragging the other one down, usually. My dream has always been that it could be two clubs lifting each other up and competing for things at the top of the table. Obviously, it's going to be very tough for Sunderland, although they've done a lot of business in the window. So see how that pans out. But yeah, I can't wait. Those fixtures are what it's all about. All right, George. Well, just to finish off then, Newcastle supporters topping the Athletics Pessimism League.

17:40Where do you stand? Are you cautiously optimistic? Where would you forecast Newcastle's season going? so I don't want to make it all about me I mean I do obviously but um when I was at the times I used to call myself a chronicler of misery because northeast football was was so sort of bad at the time what I didn't know was that my bosses my my colleagues at the times actually called me the pope of mope um which I found out about after I left to join the athletic and I kind of love that so this is my natural habitat this is me at my very best I mean I don't want joy you know don't I mean, being good, as this summer has shown, being good is vastly overrated.

18:20It's really quite difficult. So, you know, just give me misery. I think, you know, to be serious, they do have a great team and they have a great coach. I think if they can get to sixth or above, then I think in these circumstances, that would be a terrific season. Brilliant. George, look forward to hearing you on Pod on the Time and hopefully from time to time with us here on Totally Football Show and enjoy what's set to be a busy week or two in the meanwhile. Thank you. George Corkin. Well, from the Pope of Mope to the guys with size. Daniel, what's your take on Isaac and his hatred for everything Newcastle related?

19:07I do think, I know those examples of Kane and Suarez and you can go back to the 90s and Van Hooydonk and Odden Wingy literally driving to a different club and all that stuff. This one feels slightly different to me just because I think since then we now increasingly live in the age of the kind of transfer rumour micro-update so that everything that happens is a big story of that day. I think just the amount of briefings and the severity of the briefings and how quickly this is and how badly this has escalated does feel different. I also think the two fan bases concerned make it different. Newcastle invest a heck of a lot emotionally into players and they definitely have done with Isak and rightly so because they created an environment in which he has developed and flourished and taken them on and let's face it, they've taken him on as well.

20:03They paid a lot of money for someone who was not a guaranteed product when they signed him. and the demand of Liverpool fans initially for the deal to be done, probably more online, I think, than in person. But it just feels like it's kind of this sort of really nasty tidal wave that sort of washed over everything. And I do think that makes it different. I also think, you know, George touched on it, but the lack of structure at Newcastle really hasn't helped the situation. I think we're led to believe that Isaac believes he was due a contract when Paul Mitchell came in as director of football and then that was sort of put to one side and then there was a messy exit for Mitchell and then he still hasn't been formally replaced.

20:43And I think that absence of structure, that kind of leadership vacuum has really, that's the thing that should be of some regret here. You can't really change. Newcastle couldn't have done any more for Izak in terms of creating an environment for him and in making him feel loved and in turning him to an elite footballer. But they could have done something else there and that will probably be the lasting regret if the deal goes ahead. I think that's true, Daniel, but I just think by September, were they to stick it out, we'll have moved on to something else. And we won't have all the transfer obsession in quite the same micro-updatey kind of way.

21:15That is true. But the only thing in between now and that glorious era of freedom is Newcastle v Liverpool on Monday the 25th of August, which, A, you imagine would be quite a good atmosphere. And B, you do wonder whether, you know, something might happen after that. like you know if you were Newcastle and you were resigned to selling these that you'd probably hold out until after then for fears if nothing else not I do think it is interesting with a club like Newcastle that you know they have the most pessimistic fans off the back of this summer and I get it but it does also speak to the fact that summers now are so dominated by transfer talk and the fact that day by day you've got these dopamine rushes of oh my gosh we're linked with this player oh he's gone for someone else and it's this kind of like these whirlwind romances that develop in fans mind if you actually take a step back if you were actually to kind of take a step back you say they've just they're in the champions league they've just won a trophy they have made a cut you know they've signed they're about to sign my deal for what 35 million they signed a lang of 55 minutes you know those are two signings the window's still a few weeks left they might make some more signs and if he's awkward to stay they might end up and it's not been like this horrendous period that in the round it's just that day by day now that we're these updates are so transparent and we have all these ups and downs it kind of feels that way there was a good one a few couple of years ago as well i really like when kaisado in the january 23 window was basically like i'm not coming to training i'm done with this club and they were like okay yeah take a couple of weeks off and we'll see you in february and sure enough that's what happened there you go He kind of got bored, came back and was really good and then left for loads of money that summer.

22:55At work, everyone should try that. Can't go wrong. One, two, three. It's like as a kid, you sulk, you go into your room and you slam the door and then you're just like, I'm quite bored of being in my room on my own. I think I'm going to go back downstairs. Yeah. Pre-teen tantrums is a metaphor for top league footballer behaviour. I like it, Charlie. There are other clubs that we're going to be talking about today. teams with pretensions to take the title, perhaps. So let's get on to them, starting with the team at the top. Next.

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25:46This is the Totally Football Show, part of the Athletic FC podcast network. The Athletic is the only place you can read articles by Daniel Taylor, Amy Lawrence, Phil Hay, James Pearce, Oli Kaye and the very best football writers around. Liverpool, Premier League champions, are they the team to beat? Question mark. Well, Crystal Palace did on Sunday. Palace had spent, I think, about two. Did they throw such a Duncan? Kind of did, though. They took that trophy. Not a trophy, it's a shield. Took the shield. Took the shield after a draw, not the trophy after a win, I think is the official stance. I see.

26:23Well, one or two takeaways from Wembley, which is always a slightly dodgy proposition, but what's going on at the back for Liverpool? How's Mo Salah going to fit in? But then also on the other side, how brilliant does it look like the season's going to be for Liverpool fans watching Eketike and Wurz? What do you think? Liverpool, are they the team to beat? Daniel? I really can't work them out. It's really unusual for a title winner to basically try and rebuild half a squad in the same transfer window, which is pretty much what Liverpool have done. Some of that was enforced by the sale of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the need to upgrade the forward line.

27:04And obviously part of that is the horrific circumstances surrounding the passing of Diego Jota. But what Liverpool now have, to my mind, is a team that dominated last season because they were brilliant at controlling games, particularly with midfield. And I don't really know how that works now. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I'm just saying I don't know how it works because Jeremy Fringpong is one of, if not the most attacking full-back in Europe. That's where Liverpool are going to play him every week. Milos Kerkes is not that far behind on the left. And I think it's fair to say that whether they sign Alexander-Izac or not now, they will have more of a front three, front three.

27:41So if it's Ekotike, Salah and Izac, they are all players who want to stay really high. And they are now trying to integrate Florian Verts into a three-man midfield, I guess. And he is a really attacking player as well. And that's what he wants to do. He is also really hardworking. but it's hard to see how that balance remains and how they can control games if the players are playing to their strengths because I think you basically have seven outfield players who want to play high at the pitch and that's really hard to manage. They are still the team to beat but this is not a case of, kind of, to use a Liverpool phrase, we go again.

28:15It's not like a business as usual situation. It almost feels like more of a first season for Arnazsla than last season did which is a bizarre thing to say. Well, it could be slightly over-balanced. Good thing Virgil van Dijk shows no sign of suddenly falling out of form. Well, yeah. I mean, he always is rusty in pre-season and then is fine when it starts. I mean, we saw in the Community Shield that, yeah, I don't think a midfield of Schrober's Lion-Jones is going to stop many teams. So, I mean, Graven Birch obviously was one of their key players last year. He suspended for the first game. So you'd imagine McAllister will be back in.

28:51You know, he's been managed carefully. during pre-season he's had a minor injury so um yeah I share Daniel's well fears concerns interest uh delete is applicable but I do think just as this time last year no one really had Liverpool as title winners I do think everyone has just gone oh yeah they're gonna win the league I I don't really I can't really make a case for anyone to win the league yeah I've had the exact same thought Daniel that it is uh it is really unusual and I think and I looked at uh Ollie Kay's written in his piece that the last time the champions were the biggest spenders was 2019, and before that it was Man City, and before that it was 2007, which was United.

29:30So it is quite rare for the teams generally to... Although they're not the biggest spenders, and I hesitate to use this phrase, in net spend. This is true. So I think only fifth. True, but even so... Unless they bring in Izak, in which case... Sound the net spend klaxon. Sure, but even that speaks to the churn. It's kind of amazing. And you think as well, I think maybe we are slightly underestimating the importance of Trent and Andy Robertson. That has been such a key part of their success for the best part of a decade. And because Trent happened so long ago and it was heavily trailed, it feels like that's old news.

30:07But that's a big thing. But that was also part of the good news, I guess, of Sunday was watching Frimpong and Kirkus. Because if you have to replace two fullbacks like that, you couldn't. You'd be hard-pressed to come up with better alternatives than Kirkus and Frimpong. Fringham obviously looked electric. For sure. But I mean, how many times have we seen great debuts? And then actually, is that sustainable over one year? Let alone two, five, ten, like these guys. Remember the Community Shield three years ago where Nunes looked amazing. Harlan missed a complete sitter. And yeah, that's not to say those two aren't great replacements.

30:39They do look ideal. But we're talking about two really critical players for Liverpool on top of then all the change that's happened at the top end of the pitch. I mean, the counter is that Liverpool do still have Andy Robertson and they do have Conor Bradley, who would kind of almost solve those issues if they wanted to become less attacking. I did think Kerkers was caught out of position quite a lot on Sunday. But Robertson isn't what he was. I mean, he's clearly not... They don't deem him now to be at the level to be the regular starter. True, but that's when he's been playing every week, I think, as a sort of occasional left-back in big games where Liverpool need to defend, but I think he's still a pretty reliable option.

31:13OK, Duncan, you don't see Liverpool as being a step above the other contenders? Not really. I think that you can make it just as good, if flawed, case for City or Chelsea or Arsenal. That's not to say Liverpool won't do it, but I do think none of the contenders is like, you know, Manchester City were a couple of seasons ago or Manchester United were at various points in Premier League history. They're all in a state of flux. They're all trying something new this season. I think as well, there's the Salah-Afcon factor as well. He's going to be away from mid-December to mid, well depending on how long Egypt are in the competition till potentially mid-January.

31:51Yeah and I think he'll miss some quite big games then and also you know someone like him who was at such a crazy level last season that's always a curiosity can he sustain that especially the age that he's at. I also think and this is boring to say in some ways but last season showed you mentioned Duncan that Liverpool didn't go in as the big favourites. Last season kind of showed us that stuff does happen that you just can't really foresee like the things fell like I'm not saying they didn't deserve to win the league of course they did they were by far and away the best team but you know things fell for them City lost Rodri for the season who's you know we didn't know that was going to happen and I think Arsenal lost Odegaard then Saka yeah and you just don't know that maybe Liverpool will lose a key player but I think you're right Duncan that they're all close enough that it you know any of them could win if things certainly fall in their favour I think it's it's exciting I think it's one of the most kind of like up in the air starts to Premier League season for a long time and that actually makes it good And this side in particular looks like being potentially tremendously exciting, Daniel, with the prospect of, what, four up top with Salah, Kittike, Wurtz and if they bring in Isak, is that madness?

32:57Or Gakpo if not? Yeah, I mean, they have got a huge amount of options. I do think that under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool tended to go in, I think, non-deliberate. It's just how it shook out. But Liverpool tended to go in waves of targeting Premier League and Champions League. I do wonder whether, having won the Premier League last season, whether, I don't know if you ask supporters now, maybe this is like a Champions League Liverpool season. It feels like a team that has got so many weapons that in an individual match, the options they're going to be able to bring off the bench in the final third are extremely good.

33:33If Mohamed Salah gets to Afcon unscathed and is back to hit the Champions League knockout stages at full speed, assuming Liverpool get there, I wonder if this is a season of Liverpool kind of maybe just going for the Champions League. They'll want, obviously, supporters want both. But I completely agree with the other two that it's the excitement of this season for me. I did my enforced predictions for the paper this morning. And I think I pretty much had them all the same top four in order with the caveat that I'm just doing this because I don't know enough. That's changed from last season if there's enough evidence.

34:05And you could genuinely roll them all out in a completely different order. Duncan and Shelley, have you got predictions ready to go? Let's have them at the end if you do. But one little prediction now. Will Isaac end up at Anfield in the next few weeks? Duncan? Yes. Daniel? Yeah, I'm leaning towards yes. Charlie? I've felt like no throughout, so I'm going to stick with that. Stick with that. All right. Richard Hughes and Eddie Howe. Of course, the two ends of this negotiation. Old friends from Bournemouth days. Oh, by the way, Palace, who came away with a shield that, according to Duncan, they didn't win.

34:45Although the referee had been a little bit more of a... Just call me Cass. Well, indeed. Then got bad news on Monday when UEFA announced that they would be demoted to the Conference League after all over the John Texter involvement in both Palace and Lyon and not answering their emails in time. So that's a bit of a blow of Forrest in the Europa League. Good. Well, a lot of confusion as to who might be the greatest threat to Liverpool. Let's run through the contenders next.

35:25You're listening to The Totally Football Show with James Richardson. Now we do four times a week. Keep up to date with us on Insta and enjoy us in glorious Technicolour on YouTube at The Totally Show. So Liverpool have tooled up for another campaign. Who are their likeliest opponents for the title? Arsenal, who've been runners-up for the last three seasons. City, trying to bounce back from their first trophy-less campaign in eight years. Or Champions of the World, Chelsea, who were also, about a month before that, the fourth best team in the Premier League. Who's your money on, Charlie? I don't know.

36:01It is really difficult. City so much depends on Rodri and how fit and injury-free he's able to stay the season. Obviously, we gather he'll miss the first few games of the season as it is. And you tend to see, you know, post-ACL players are more at risk of other injuries, even if they're not serious ones necessarily. It's tough. I mean, what's so kind of ridiculous about making predictions is all anyone really does is say what the status quo is. If you look at predicted tables, it's kind of what last season was. And we'll probably all end up going with that. But this is a different team to the one that certainly started last season.

36:38A couple of the players came in in January. You've got a bunch of other arrivals since then. For City, you mean? For City, yeah. I mean, I guess given their pedigree under Guardiola, you'd have to say, you'd imagine they'd be in the top two. And they've also got new arrivals on the bench next to Pep with Colo Torre. and Pep Linders joining another Pep. So what is that? Pep Linders who was with Klopp in his heavy metal. And also James French who was the Liverpool set-piece guy. He's gone over to City. So City are kind of like in some ways they're the Klopp team now. So, yeah, I think you can almost, if you took Arsenal's defence, Chelsea's been filled and City's attack and crunched them together, that would be a team that would.

37:22Would you rather have City's attack or Liverpool's attack? Well, this was a team to challenge Liverpool, I was thinking. Oh, right. That'd be difficult, wouldn't it, logistically? But as we said before, they're all good teams, but with issues. And I think, unlike a lot of seasons, we don't know until the season starts how that's going to play out. You know, Arsenal in pre-season looked a bit like last season when they were struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. They did a bit better against Athletic Club and their last friendly. but a lot of them, it was a lot of the same issues they saw last season.

37:53So there's a lot of things for these teams to fix and we're about to find out whether they have. OK, Charlie mentions Rodri's fitness as being the thing that City need to fix. Do you think that's the big question mark for you, Daniel? Yeah, there are three really. One is undoubtedly Rodri and I think it is a concern. He does seem to be getting those muscle injuries. Having been very well managed minutes-wise by Guardiola last season to try and ensure that doesn't happen. And it has still happened. My big question with City is, is it possible for players who effectively had a year off form-wise to come back and be exactly what they were?

38:29Phil Foden was way off it last season for various reasons. Erling Haaland only scored four league goals from February onwards, which is completely off-kilter for him. I just don't know whether adding new players to that makes it more likely for those players to get back really quickly, or actually it will take a lot more time for that to happen and therefore whether they might be playing catch-up again as they were last season. The kind of elephant in the room here and the reason it's so hard to predict is that the title winners last season only got 84 points. They did. They tailed last four games when they'd won it, they only got two points.

39:04Yeah, they did. So it's slightly skewed. But second place was 10 points below that. So there is a significant gap to bridge for those players. If we think that Liverpool are going to be at least as good as 84 points again. And I don't think that's particularly controversial. There is quite a big gap to bridge. And I just, I think there are enough questions about City that, yeah, that I'm not completely sold. I think their third favourites were a reason, put it that way, which would have been an unthinkable thing to say 12 months ago. Well, am I the only one who, talking about Man City, Daniel mentioning an elephant in the room thought he was going in a completely different direction?

39:38Yeah, yeah, yeah. The charges, yeah. Sorry, Charlie, you wanted to make a point. No, I think that's an interesting point that Daniel raises about the can they lift themselves. All I would say on that is, if you remember in 2019-20, very similar season they had. Liverpool won the league by Atacanta and City were way off it. And it felt like absolutely the end of a cycle. It felt like players had lost motivation. A lot of them we read didn't want to play for Pep. They went and won the next four. So who knows? I mean, I'm not saying that will necessarily happen again, but he has got previous Pep for regenerating in that way that Ferguson used to do.

40:10And the way that Liverpool are trying to do now. has seen that at Liverpool and the Klopp knows it better than anyone yeah alright issues for City issues certainly for Arsenal and Chelsea too are there equivalent issues or fewer question marks Duncan Chelsea are are they the most intriguing question ahead of this new season I mean we're two years on from me saying they'd come second and being widely mocked for two years but they're world champions now so who's who's laughing now No one But yeah I think they've probably got the High ceiling Chelsea but You know the goalkeeping situation is still A concern But I do think they've upgraded In attack which is obviously what they needed to do And they look like a team transformed at the club World Cup they look like a team that had Assimilated what Maresca wanted Of them that with De Lappan Particularly with Jean-Pedro coming in No longer They had shaken off those finishing issues Which had been a real problem I think in some ways the Club World Cup was Maresca shaking off his own philosophy a little bit.

41:15He did sort of cut loose a little bit more, which I think, you know, obviously PSG found out what that can result in in the final. So I think for me it's whether Maresca kind of overthinks it a little bit this season and whether he can get that balance of getting Cole Palmer as a sort of creative fulcrum versus, you know, there were points particularly in the middle of last season where it wasn't much fun watching Chelsea. They were very, very controlled. And I know the Chelsea fans are getting increasingly irate with how controlled it was. But, yeah, I do feel like they've definitely got something.

41:47And their squad, you know, through many, many years of purchasing players is very deep. Yeah, another 230 million odd this summer. Daniel, would your issues about Chelsea include the fact that they were at the Club World Cup right to the end and therefore had almost no pre-season? and that Levi Colwell is out with a torn ACL and will miss most, if not all, of the season. Would those rank highly? Yeah, Chelsea are this group of four by far the ones I'm least high on. I still don't think that defence, for all the money spent, I don't think the defence and goalkeeper are elite, certainly not with Colwell missing as well.

42:24He was a really strong part of that. I still don't know. If you push all their left wingers into one left winger, you get a really elite player. and if you put all their right wingers into one right wing you get a really elite players but I don't really see it I don't think there's enough in them individually the rotation of them might really work but I don't see that and and as you say they've also played 64 competitive matches since the start of last season which at some point we talk about the no Europe joke at some point come February or March that really has to both harm players in terms of energy levels and also I think psychologically a lot of those players who have played a lot of those matches are going to have a World Cup next summer, a really long seven-week World Cup in really hot weather.

43:06I just think psychologically it's quite hard to deal with that. I do think they've upgraded the attack. I think Jao Pedro already looks a better signing than I thought he might be, a kind of more ready-to-go signing. But I don't think, yeah, I have them kind of in their own league of in fourth place, basically. They also had the Champions League this season. Last season they had the Conference League, which they would heavily rotate for. so that's that's a big ask of your squad we saw that with all the teams that are in the Champions League last season suffered injuries to varying degrees right so not Chelsea then what about another London team Charlie what about the Arsenal yeah I mean they're the I think they're the only team in top flight history that have come second three times in a row and they've done it twice now and the last time they did it they then won the league off the back of those consecutive second place finishes um there's no reason why they can't I mean they've they've established some very strong foundations in each of the last two seasons they've conceded the fewest goals and we used to talk about you know defense defenses winning titles and kind of think whoever had the best defense would win I think that's probably flipped a bit but it's still a great foundation to have you know last season the injuries notwithstanding the biggest issue that they had was drawing games they drew so many games and I think and they were ahead in a lot of those games and I think the issue they had was that they didn't because partly because of the injuries they didn't have the firepower to bring on to close those games out they have addressed that and I think what may be decisive having talked about transfers and their importance is you know can they get another player in to bolster the left-hand side because they've been so strong on the right for a long time it's the left where they're kind of good but not great which means teams can focus on getting Saka and Odegaard out the game if they were to bring in an Eze or someone like that that obviously elevates them the jokeres factor is a big unknown because finally they've done what everyone has said which is you know you've got this great team all you need is a guy to come in and score a load of goals simple you'll win the league uh we'll see if jokeres well a if he can do that but b whether the team not suffers necessarily but has to shift in the way that city did with harland um you know they had to alter their way of playing so it's going to be really interesting and zubamendi who i mentioned at the top he looks like he might be the most important signing, more so than Jokeres.

45:24I mean, he looks like he could be their Rodri. Him and Rice are combining really well. I mean, again, with the massive caveat that you can never judge anything from pre-season games, but they have worked well together. How strong are you on Arsenal, Daniel? Yeah, I am strong. I think my big fear is the wrong word, is too strong, but my big kind of question mark is whether they can deal psychologically with what I would now call as a no-excuse league season, I think there were valid reasons to finish second in each of the last three years, and they should feel very proud to have done that. But the signing of Jokos, as well as changing how the team operates, it also has to change the mindset.

46:03Everybody knows that everybody has said, as Charlie mentioned, they only need this and they win the league. Well, they've got this now, and there are no excuses. And finishing second this season will not be viewed as a success in the way that it may have been in the last three years. You're saying there are no excuses, but what about the ball? it's going to be manufactured by Puma and I understand they've had difficulties with that in the past. Well, that kind of play, that brings me to, you bring me to Mikel Arteta there because there have been times when his management style of playing on the edge or coaching on the edge, literally of the touchline of your answer, Richard Keyes, but it's all felt quite fraught.

46:41And the weird thing about last season, as Charlie mentioned, is that they drew quite a lot of games and it actually felt quite flat. It's going to be finding the balance between, you know, having that upbeat, we need to be up-tempo to win games and also not getting too frayed because they did get a bit too frayed in previous seasons, particularly two seasons ago. I'm fascinated to see how that works. If they manage that right, there's no reason why they can't win the league. But I kind of fear that if Arsenal are comfortably second or third in November, December, it's quite easy to see how everyone gets a bit frantic and thinks this is our time and we can see it slipping away.

47:17Just on Kese, he did point out that Jokeres has used the Puma ball before in Portugal, so he should be up to speed with it. Excellent. And did so well with that. He also pointed out Jack Grealish might play at Goodison, which seems unlikely. I mean, Arteta is, I think the fan base, the wider Arsenal fan base is probably, this is Arteta's last big chance to win a league for them, I think, in terms of it's come so close for so long. I think if you look at why it didn't work as well last season, why, as Daniel says, they drew a lot of games. Odegaard really dropped off and was unable to sort of break down opposition defences.

47:51And out for a lot of the season and then recover. Yeah, yeah, true. But you wonder how much, firstly, Ethan Ranieri will get a chance to play this season and whether Arteta will be tempted to plunge 15-year-old Max Downman into action. 15-year-old Max Downman, who has featured heavily in pre-season. How excited should fans broadly across the spectrum be about this youngster? He does look special. I mean, it's impossible to get your head around the fact that he's 15. I mean, it's so crazily young. I mean, again, it is different intensity. But, you know, he played against teams like Newcastle and it didn't feel like they were going easy on him.

48:28The opposite, in fact. You know, he got an early reducer from Joëlinton. And, yeah, he does look pretty tasty. I don't imagine we'll see a huge amount of him this season. That feels a bit crazy. What position is he, Chuck? He plays out on, he plays kind of where Saka and Nwenaire do. I mean, they've produced this crazy group of incredibly talented, left-footed attackers who play out on the right. So in preseason, he's played as a kind of conventional right winger. I don't know if as he develops, he might move inside a little bit, which is what Nwenaire's done, having played on the wing last season.

49:02The idea, I think, is that he'll play a bit more centrally. I mean, at the moment, he just gets the ball, stands defenders up, twists them inside out, can get to the byline. and seems like he's got a decent right foot as well. I mean, those in the know sort of say he's the best English prospect since Wayne Rooney. So, yeah, I mean, that's the thing. That was my point, really, in the sense that if it doesn't go perfectly for Arsenal, you know, will Arteta just start using everything at his disposal, which could include Danwan? The Arsenal youth. Right, they've got a tough start, haven't they, the Gunners?

49:35In their first six games, they visit Old Trafford, Anfield and St James' while also welcoming Man City and Nottingham Forest to the Emirates. It all begins with Man United away. Could be interesting, that one, eh? Mm, mm. Yeah, well, we're all in agreement on that. Very shortly, we'll see how much you concur with your prospective top four stroke fives. Not sure how far down the list you've gone. But next up, we'll just have a quick check-in on Spurs, the sixth Premier League Champions League side.

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53:01This is the Totally Football Show, part of the Athletic FC podcast network.

53:28That was the sound of Spurs winning the Europa League. Seems so long ago now, doesn't it? Of course, so much has changed since then. Sun has gone. Madison's done his ACL. Ange has gone. Morgan Gibbs-White has left them at the altar. But as the new season rules into view, not only have you got Champions League football, you've also got one of the most exciting managers in the Premier League, Thomas Frank. Is that fair? Mo Koudis coming in from West Ham. and less exotically, but still, I mean, almost perhaps more influentially. Jean Palinier coming in from Bayern Munich, which when you think of the numbers he used to produce at Fulham, could be a real change for Spurs.

54:13Daniel, what are your thoughts on Tottenham Hotspur this season? Higher than 17th? Higher than 17th. Jean Palinier is, I cannot think of a better, a more fitting player for that kind of, If you walk into a pub and hear someone saying, you know, I really like that Jaapolini sign, that's exactly what Tottenham needed, that energy in midfield. It is perfect for that. And to be fair, that man in the pub is pretty much right. I'm still slightly underwhelmed at how I hope that getting Thomas Frank in, who was at a club at Brentford, who were, as well as being smart on a lot of things, were really efficient with transfers.

54:47In the last few days, Frank has kind of slightly hinted at this. he sort of said, paraphrasing, but he sort of said, Brentford is a club that gets stuff done, whereas at Tottenham we seem to be talking quite a lot and there's a lot of meetings about things and then we push forward. I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone harder early because what new managers need, particularly those that step up to a club in the same league and a club with more pressure and more scrutiny, they obviously need a full pre-season, which he's had, but they really like getting the transfer business done early so then that they can effectively create a squad and not have to do anything with it during August while the games start.

55:22And they haven't really done that. I know they've signed Kudus and I know they've signed Pelinia, but there's still quite a lot of work to do, I think, with that squad. I think he will benefit massively from being a very good defensive coach, replacing a guy who played with a suicidally high line at times for most of his Tottenham reign. I think that will help him. And I think that organisation will probably take a little bit of getting used to for Tottenham fans because it won't be quite as swashbuckling, but it will make more sense. But I just don't know how those attackers create chances playing as Brentford did.

55:55I don't quite get that working yet. And I think they really need a number 10 because Maddison, it looks like he's going to be out for a while. Sadly, I don't think Tottenham can ever fully trust that they're going to get a full season out of him. So yeah, they need a player to sort that. And I'm slightly concerned that it's happening so late. but then Tottenham fans will say that's always the way. Eze they are back in for apparently. They're back in for Eze, are they? Good point, good point, yeah. Heung-min Son now of LAFC. I felt a little bit sad that he didn't get to bow out in North London as opposed to it all kind of coming out in the middle of an Asian tour.

56:34It was an Asian tour, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah. I mean, he may subsequently get a... I'm sure they will organise something because he has been... Mr Spurs. He has. I mean, it's incredible, really. But also, it was very sad. But I think the fact that he won the trophy just before, that made it feel like a kind of he was leaving on a high. He'd done what he had always wanted to do. He'd sort of finally scaled that mountain. And I think it would have felt very differently if he'd left, not with his tail between his legs because he achieved so much, but because he didn't play so much in his final season, if the season had just petered out and then he was always remembered as being the best player to have never won a trophy with Spurs and all of this, alongside Harry Kane, obviously.

57:13But he's got that. He had that crowning moment. And I think that's massive for his legacy and standing. Goodbye to one of the great ex-Geo performers for Premier League history. One of the great two-footed performers as well. He had one of the highest, if not the highest, proportion of goals with his weaker foot. Spurs this season? Yeah, I mean, it's funny because Postacoglu felt like this huge gamble where it felt like in some ways the sky was the limit, but also that they could fall quite far. And weirdly, they sort of did both last season. I mean, they plunged in the league. I always found it so interesting covering him in the first few months.

57:53and you listen to him and he was so incredibly persuasive. Where's this going to end? Either he's like, he is the Messiah or maybe there's not enough substance. And yeah, it's kind of both happened. Frank is, I'd say a very different extreme. Like I think it's hard. I'm not saying it won't happen, but it's hard to imagine them being incredible under him. But at the same time, I think there'll be a lot better than what they were. There'll be a lot more organized. I think against, you even saw it, they played Arsenal in a friendly and they won the game 1-0 and they were very dogged. and I know ultimately Spurs won the Europa League by doing that but that was kind of an extremist thing but I think he'll be good I think he'll get them back on a solid footing and clearly they're going to finish higher than they did last season but I think they should finish 15th yeah I think they should finish quite a lot higher we should just underline how mad last season was 22 defeats is the most in a 20 team season for a team that didn't go down ever ever they had a goal difference of minus one they scored 64 goals but then 65 it doesn't make any sense you do worry slightly that if they get off to a slow start under Frank it could be a bit Nuno well does he have a history of getting off to slow starts he rather does lost 7 of his first 10 at Brentford Bromby before that also didn't win any of his first 4 we shall see they begin Spurs at home to Burnley Burnley yeah while Arsenal are away at Old Trafford as we mentioned City are at Wolves and Liverpool begin Friday at home to Bournemouth we'll get predictions from you all and check in on the Championship as well in a second Spurs Burnley of course the fixture where Son produced his push gas winning goal there you go there you go December 2019 just ran and ran knowledge very good alright championship and some predictions for what they're worth next after this this is the Totally Football Show with James Richardson part of the Athletic FC podcast network brand new Premier League campaign getting underway officials getting ready some new regulations for them if you watch the Club World Cup you'll know all about the 8 second rule which sees a corner or watches the opposition if your goalkeeper hangs on to the ball beyond that time limit.

1:00:17One, two other things as well. The Athletics' Adam Leventhal has been along to the referee's pre-season training camp to ask why on earth they do what they do and how they're getting ready to do it this season. That's a special podcast that you can hear from The Athletic. Is that out now, guest producer Lucy? Yes, it is. There you go, listener. Stick around here, though, for a minute or two more because very shortly we'll be chuckling away at some top four predictions. Right after, I ask if anybody saw what happened this weekend in the Championship. The Championship got underway. Duncan, I know you'll have been concerned with Wickham in League One.

1:00:58Lost two out of two. About to sell your top scorer from last season? Yeah, Richard Kane is off to QPR, I think, which, I mean, fair enough. He's earned the move. Yeah, I went to Bradford on the opening day. That's how hyped up I was for the new EFL season. They've played okay. They've been a bit defensively lax, but they're playing a new style. They're the team with the highest sort of possession and pass completion rate in League One. That's nice. It's a whole new ballgame. Daniel, you went across to Leicester against Sheffield Wednesday, crisis club, well, both crisis clubs to be fair, on Sunday.

1:01:34How was that? Yeah, I went to spend the day with Sheffield Wednesday supporters who were protesting, organised by the Supporters' Trust, against the ownership of Dejvon Chancery, by staying out of the ground or staying out of the seats until five minutes in. And it was one of those, you hear about these sort of protests quite a lot, and they seem to be slightly, you know, whether they're badly communicated or whether some people just don't think it's worth it or just fancy it, but it says a lot about the severity of the situation and the way in which it's brought Sheffield Wednesday supporters together, that the end was basically empty, at the kick-off.

1:02:09And the game was on Sky, that's why they did it. It got big coverage. Leicester fans, when the Sheffield Wednesday fans came in, the referee delayed a free kick and there was a big standing ovation from Leicester fans. It felt a big deal. So fair play to them and congratulations for that. I hope it makes one iota of difference in Chan-Ciri lowering his asking price for the club and selling because that relationship is completely and irreparably broken. and Sheffield Wednesday are one of the crisis clubs, yes. They have now paid outstanding salaries to players and staff because I think they got their Premier League solidarity payment through.

1:02:48But, yeah, effectively the club's not really being funded. So we see what happens next month and the month after and so on and so forth. They only had 16 first-team players at the start of the season. They lost 2-1 and were absolutely magnificent, took a 1-0 lead. but they had Barry Madden sent off for two yellow cards he'll only miss one game but they also got two players injured muscle injuries which because they haven't had a pre-season that's going to happen so they're down very much to the bare bones We read about John Texter potentially being interested in taking an involvement in the club there's not been any issues with him owning multiple clubs in the past have they?

1:03:26No Joking side on that every Sheffield Wednesday fan I had kind of exact same conversation about John Texter with them all, which is like, yeah, we get it. It's not ideal. It probably wouldn't be the only we chose, but sort of gestures, arms, everything going on behind them. You can see why we're probably quite up for it. Right. Okay. Elsewhere in the Championship, lots of interest around the two clubs automatically promoted from League One, Birmingham City and Wrexham, both of whom threatened to get important opening day wins. Wrexham ultimately were denied by those late-late goals from Will Stills Southampton.

1:04:01Manning in behind Longman. It's Manning. Downs coming yet to it. But it's first in. It's Jack Stephens.

1:04:15The championship is back all right. No one does drama like this league does drama. Well Birmingham City cheated were they by that handball call? The handball has been around since the 1880s. Wasn't there Sunday at Wembley, though, was it? No, fair. But, I mean, as someone who supports a team who battled Birmingham and Wrexham last season and ultimately lost out, it was quite pleasant to see them both concede very late in their opening games. Wrexham, Phil Parkinson complaining about the disparity in resources in the Championship, which, yeah, it's true. All right, there were winning starts for Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough, a Ryan Mason at West Brom, a Gerhard Struber who led Bristol City's World 4-1 win at Sheffield United.

1:05:03Did you catch Scott Twine's delicious set piece and less delicious knee slide afterwards? Yeah. Heart and mouth stuff, that. I mean, I've said before, you should only be allowed to knee slide during GMT, not BST. So from October to March, slide away. Because of the pitch conditions? Yeah. Softer turf, slicker grass. October to March, why would the turf be softer? Winter. Doesn't that make the turf harder? Nah. Colder? More dewy? Yeah, a lot of dew. Right. Yeah. Okay, drier. Because, I mean, Scott... We're looking for non-dry conditions. Scott Twine was genuinely lucky not to... Yeah, he really was.

1:05:43He looked in a lot of pain. Yeah, he sort of limped away. But, yeah, don't do it. But Ryan Mason, I am interested in having twice covered him as sort of interim Spurs manager. Curiously how he does get on in his first managerial job. Okay. Who've they got this weekend, Charlie? They're away at Wrexham. Oh, yeah. Tough place to go. Notoriously so. Very good. Well, that's the championship covered in enormous depth. A lot more of that on the way. So we're now in the end of the season. You'll be dipping in and out as part of your on-the-road series, I imagine, Daniel. Yeah, I'm going to Morecambe this weekend.

1:06:22It's an absolute parody of myself. I'm going to a game that has already been postponed because Morecambe have not been allowed to register for the National League yet, so I'm going to go up and meet some supporters and spend a non-football Saturday afternoon with them. Brilliant. When there should be a game. August weekend at the Seaside. Very nice indeed. Now, before we wrap up, let's just return to the Premier League and after much rumination, get your picks for who's going to finish where of the four teams we were discussing before. Have your predictions changed at all in the course of today's show, Charlie?

1:06:59Maybe slightly. Oh, yeah? Who? I don't know. I think I'll go Liverpool. As the winners? Yeah. No, I'm going to go City as the winners. City to win, yeah. Arsenal second, Liverpool third, Chelsea fourth. Chelsea fourth. And has that shifted at all in the course? Oh, in the last two seconds. Really? I find it impossible to call it, really. Right. OK, Daniel, any surer? No, but significantly more boring. I'm going for the same order as last season, I think, which is Liverpool-Arsenal-City-Chelsea. Good Lord. Good Lord. And Duncan? I think I'll go Arsenal first. Really? Yeah. To win the title? Yeah.

1:07:43It sounds outlandish, but it is technically possible. I've checked the regulations. and then I'll go City second Liverpool third Chelsea fourth Chelsea fourth that's a consensus pick isn't it my word my word well on Thursday we'll come back and talk about the other 16 positions that are up for grabs in this bold new Premier League campaign and other stuff too as we count down of course by then it'll only be 24 hours or so by the time Thursday the show drops till the first game that Liverpool Bournemouth clash So make sure you join us for that, A Listener. For now, so many thanks to Charlie Akosher.

1:08:22Thank you. To Daniel Storey and to Duncan Alexander and also to George Corkin, who joined us earlier to produce a new listener. Have a great week. And do join us again Thursday. And remember, by the way, that this season we'll be doing four shows a week on Totally Football Show. Not this week because there's no Euro show. But there is an extra show that will be with you at the end of the week, probably Saturday which keep an eye out for on the air as well for that anyway that's enough of me rambling from all of us here it's goodbye

1:08:57You've been listening to The Totally Football Show part of the Athletic FC podcast network for more great podcasts just like this one including The Athletic FC and our dedicated club podcasts search for The Athletic on Apple, Spotify and all the usual places we're also at The Totally Football Show on Insta and at The Totally Show on YouTube The Totally Football Show is an Athletic Media Company production.

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